Strength training and staying active is extremely important to individuals with NLSD-M to prevent muscle atrophy and deconditioning. A well balanced  program focusing on strength, muscle activation, mobility, balance and conditioning are all important components of a well rounded program.

 

Due to the accumulated fats in muscle tissue, muscle atrophy is prevalent in individuals with NLSD-M. Exercise can help with muscle hypertrophy which will help with things like mobility, balance and any other day to day activities. A properly developed strength training program for patients with NLSD-M should take a more holistic/full body approach as opposed to a body part specific split seen in bodybuilder type programs. Programs designed for patients should lean more towards unilateral (one arm or leg at a time) as opposed to a traditional bilateral approach seen in exercises like barbell back squat, barbell bench press or the deadlift. This helps minimize any muscle imbalances or compensation patterns that could be developed to take over for weaker muscles in the arms and/or legs.

 

Aerobic conditioning is a form of cardiovascular exercise that causes adaptations including the increase of functional capacity of the heart, increasing the size of the vascular network and most importantly increasing the number of mitochondria and the function of mitochondria. When we are exercising at lower intensities we tend to use more fat for fuel which is beneficial due to the excess fats in the muscle tissue.

 

Tracking how the patient feels and responds to certain exercises is extremely important as well. Traditional progressive overload where the loads, volume, tempo and frequency are undulating is not a main priority in patients with NLSD-M. How the patient feels during and after a training session while not regressing will always take precedence over the novelty of changing exercises.